Reel 2 Real kicks off with family film

Mark Leiren-Young, Special To The Sun04.03.2014

Reflecting on their magic togther Delilah Dick (left) shares a light moment with 13 year Sunshine O’ Donovan the young native actress who starred in the film (Shana) about a young woman who loses here mother, on March 23, 2014. Delilah Dick plays the young women’s teacher in the film, where Sunshine O’ Donovan will be starring in that premiere at Reel 2 Real festival.Mark van Manen
/ Vancouver Sun

Reflecting on their magic togther Delilah Dick (left) shares a light moment with 13 year Sunshine O’ Donovan the young native actress who starred in the film (Shana) about a young woman who loses here mother, on March 23, 2014. Delilah Dick plays the young women’s teacher in the film, where Sunshine O’ Donovan will be starring in that premiere at Reel 2 Real festival.Mark van Manen
/ Vancouver Sun

Actor Richard Harmon, left and father and director Allan Harmon, right spoke to The Vancouver Sun on the indie movie set of "If I Had Wings" being shot at Golden Ears Park in Maple Ridge, B.C. Wednesday, July 11, 2013.Ric Ernst
/ VANCOUVER SUN

Singer - songwriter and American Idol finalist Scott MacIntyre, left spoke to The Vancouver Sun reporter Zoe McKnight, right on the indie movie set of "If I Had Wings" being shot at Golden Ears Park in Maple Ridge, B.C. Wednesday, July 11, 2013.Ric Ernst
/ VANCOUVER SUN

Actor Jill Hennessy spoke to The Vancouver Sun on the indie movie set of "If I Had Wings" being shot at Golden Ears Park in Maple Ridge, B.C. Wednesday, July 11, 2013.Ric Ernst
/ VANCOUVER SUN

Actor Jill Hennessy spoke to The Vancouver Sun on the indie movie set of "If I Had Wings" being shot at Golden Ears Park in Maple Ridge, B.C. Wednesday, July 11, 2013.Ric Ernst
/ VANCOUVER SUN

Producer Cynde Harmon, left chats with singer - songwriter and American Idol finalist Scott MacIntyre, center and his wife Christine MacIntyre, right on the indie movie set of "If I Had Wings" being shot at Golden Ears Park in Maple Ridge, B.C. Wednesday, July 11, 2013.Ric Ernst
/ VANCOUVER SUN

Singer - songwriter and American Idol finalist Scott MacIntyre, right chats with actor Jill Hennessy, left on the indie movie set of "If I Had Wings" being shot at Golden Ears Park in Maple Ridge, B.C. Wednesday, July 11, 2013.Ric Ernst
/ VANCOUVER SUN

Producer Cynde Harmon spoke to The Vancouver Sun on the indie movie set of "If I Had Wings" being shot at Golden Ears Park in Maple Ridge, B.C. Wednesday, July 11, 2013.Ric Ernst
/ VANCOUVER SUN

Singer - songwriter and American Idol finalist Scott MacIntyre, left and his wife Christine MacIntyre, center chat with actor Jill Hennessy, right on the indie movie set of "If I Had Wings" being shot at Golden Ears Park in Maple Ridge, B.C. Wednesday, July 11, 2013.Ric Ernst
/ VANCOUVER SUN

Actor Richard Harmon is put through the paces on the set of "If I Had Wings" in Golden Ears Park in Maple Ridge, B.C. Wednesday, July 11, 2013.Ric Ernst
/ VANCOUVER SUN

Singer - songwriter and American Idol finalist Scott MacIntyre spoke to The Vancouver Sun on the indie movie set of "If I Had Wings" being shot at Golden Ears Park in Maple Ridge, B.C. Wednesday, July 11, 2013.Ric Ernst
/ VANCOUVER SUN

Director Allan Harmon, left with actors Craig Bierko, center and his son Richard Harmon, right on the set of "If I Had Wings" in Golden Ears Park in Maple Ridge, B.C. Wednesday, July 11, 2013.Ric Ernst
/ VANCOUVER SUN

Singer - songwriter and American Idol finalist Scott MacIntyre,left and his wife Christine MacIntyre, right spoke to The Vancouver Sun on the indie movie set of "If I Had Wings" being shot at Golden Ears Park in Maple Ridge, B.C. Wednesday, July 11, 2013.Ric Ernst
/ VANCOUVER SUN

Actor Richard Harmon is put through the paces on the set of "If I Had Wings" in Golden Ears Park in Maple Ridge, B.C. Wednesday, July 11, 2013.Ric Ernst
/ VANCOUVER SUN

It seems only right that the opening of the 16th annual Reel 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth is a true family film. If I Had Wings, which launches the weeklong festival at the Vancity Theatre April 4, features brother and sister acting team Richard and Jessica Harmon. The movie is directed by their dad Allan Harmon and produced by mom, Cynde Harmon (who’s also one of the producers of another festival pick, Shana: The Wolf’s Music).

Richard and Jessica both landed Leo Awards for their acting last year — Richard for his performance as the kid who may one day rule and/or destroy the world in the TV series Continuum and Jessica for her part in another movie made by her parents (Anything But Christmas).

If I had Wings, which was shot in Langley, is the story of would-be runner Richard Harmon — who dreams of flying, or at least running for his school’s track team. The movie also stars Jaren Brandt Bartlett (Arctic Air), Lorne Cardinal (Corner Gas), and Jill Hennessy (Crossing Jordan).

Other films featured at the festival include the B.C. premiere of Horizon Beautiful. In English, Swiss and Amharic with English subtitles, it’s the story of a 12-year-old boy with dreams of playing pro soccer who sets out to impress a Swiss soccer pro. The movie was shot on location in Ethiopia and plays April 5 at 1 p.m. and April 9 at 10 a.m.

The South African feature Felix tells the story of a 14-year-old boy who wants to play a saxophone — but mom doesn’t approve. Felix plays the SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts April 5 at 3:30 p.m. (the only event not at the Vancity Theatre) and is presented in partnership with the South African Film Festival with net proceeds supporting Education Without Borders.

Local filmmakers are the focus in the Made in B.C. Shorts Program — a 70-minute showcase featuring new works by Ann Marie Fleming, Florian Halbedl, Kevin Redvers, Elisa Chee, Mark Ratzlaff and Jeff Chiba Stearns. You can catch the shorts showcase April 6 at 3 p.m.

The festival closes out with an unconventional cartoon — Approved for Adoption — an Animated Memoir. Through a mix of animation and archival footage, filmmaker Jung Henin shares his story of being a young Korean boy adopted by a Belgian family. The movie is in French and Korean with English subtitles and screens April 10 at 6:30 p.m. It’s followed by the festival’s closing awards ceremony.

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